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“Fingerprinting is a common practice because signatures can be imitated, but there is no way to copy a fingerprint,” one employee told local media.

Mr Wu, who works at an education company in Beijing, had already paid 55,000 RMB ($6200) to a real estate agency as a deposit for a new home when he was knocked back by the banks.

The incident sparked widespread backlash online, with users on social media up in arms over the process, saying it lacked compassion. After the news went viral, several of the banks reportedly reversed their decisions.

Meanwhile, Zhengzhou’s top housing authority, the Housing Management Bureau, announced a so-called “green passage” would be opened up for Mr Wu and others with similar disabilities so they would be eligible for mortgages.

Reports did not specify what alternative authentication methods would be used.

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